Camilla
“Thank you, Beatrice, for rushing over. I hate leaving Liam this soon after the accident, but I have to check on my sister.”
“It’s no trouble at all.” Her grey hair is pinned up in a bun, and I stifle a giggle when I see her black orthopedic tennis shoes below her long black skirt. I pray I don’t dress like that in my sixties.
“This is more than I should ask of you, but could you discreetly check on Ellis a time or two, as well?”
Giving a knowing smile, she nods.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Thank you again. I’ll try to hurry back.” Grabbing my purse off the table near the door, I slip out quietly.
Greyson and Ellis have been talking a while, and I’ve worried Beatrice wouldn’t get here in time for me to escape without an interrogation.
I didn’t call Fletcher to take me. He lives nearby and is somehow at Ellis’s beck and call. No, I have to do this alone, and my sir will be pissed later, but I’ll deal with him then. He will want to punish me, and I’ll happily oblige.
In my old car, I drive past the security guys and wave. One gives an anxious, puzzled look before he nods. Yep, I’m probably getting them in trouble, too.
I drive far across town from Ellis’s, and it’s like I’m in another world when I near my dilapidated, ugly brown apartment building.
The realization creates a sting of guilt in my chest for living here with Liam, but I remind myself that I was doing the best I could under the circumstances.
I park next to an old pickup that’s in my assigned spot. I wasn’t about to bring the new Mercedes here. It would be gone once I’m ready to leave.
As usual, music is blaring as I approach the door, and I guess I’ll be lecturing Sasha. She’s going to get us kicked out of this place if she keeps it up.
Once I unlock the door, I push it open, but it stops as the chain lock catches. In frustration and so she’ll hear me over the music, I pound on the door. Rusty’s face appears through the small opening where the chain is fastened.
“Well, well, well, look who came by to slum it.”
“Cut the shit, and let me inside my apartment.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Excuse me? I’m not playing, Rusty. Let me in.”
“No. Go back to your mansion.” He rubs on his dark goatee that matches the color of his stringy, long hair.
I grab my hip. “Where’s Sasha? Get her now.”
“No.”
“Then I’ll call the cops.”
“You’re bluffing. Your sister already blabbed that there’s a reason you’d never get the cops involved, so you’re going to go back to that rich asshole and pay the bills on this place every month so we can live here.”
“The quota of blackmails I’ll tolerate for the year has been met, so you can kiss my ass.” I pull out my phone from my purse. “I’m calling the property manager. He’ll kick every one of you out.”
“See, I thought of that, too, but after he sees what’s going on in here, he’ll then call the cops, which puts us back to that whole issue again, and we already established how you don’t want the police showing up.”
All his words are flowing out in an annoying singsong, and I want to reach through this opening and strangle his windpipe. Shoving on the door, I scream for Sasha. Rusty gives a smug grin that reaches his glassy eyes.
“She’s not in any shape to chat.”
“What did you do to her? What did you give her?”
“Go home, Princess. Your kind isn’t welcome here.” He slams the door in my face, and I let out the loudest groan. That fucking asshole isn’t getting away with this.
My sister must’ve failed to tell him the environment we were raised in. Liam’s being safely cared for at the moment, so I can handle this old-school.
Once I’m in my car, I root through my purse and find the business card Bruce gave me my last night at Octavia. I punch the numbers into my phone.
“Hello, it’s Bruce here.”
“Bruce, it’s Camilla … from Octavia.”
“Cannoli girl, how’s it hanging?”
“Actually, not good. I need a favor.”
“What’s the problem?”
“Do you have a couple of friends who could help you clean out a house for me? As in, clean the lowlifes out of my old apartment for me? My sister’s inside, and she’s in trouble.”
“I told you I got your back, girl, and I meant it. I don’t have to be at work for a couple of hours. Where are you?”
I shake my head. “This is crazy. I can’t ask this of you. What if you get in trouble?”
“That’s not gonna happen. I have special ways of making people stay quiet.”
“OK, but only if you’re sure. Let me give you the address….”
I hang up with Bruce, and my phone rings while still in my hand. Shit. Ellis. He already knows I disobeyed. Pushing the answer button, I hold it up to my ear and scrunch my nose.
“Hello.”
“Are you still at your apartment?” he asks, with anxiety as an undertone to his powerful voice.
“Yes, and I’ll be home later.”
“I’m on my way to get you.”
“No, Ellis, please don’t show up here. I don’t want you to see my apartment.”
He growls in my ear. “What’s going on over there?”
“I have it under control.”
“I swear on the goddamn playroom that you’re being punished for this, young lady.”
“Punish me all you want to, but please don’t come here.” It’s quiet on the other end of the line. “Ellis? Are you there?” He hung up on me. That can’t be good.